”Anna looked at me. Sort of stared. Then a snort. Then a full laugh. I started laughing, too. She spilt a little of her drink on herself and laughed...more. We were both doubled over.“God,” she said, wiping the tears away. “You are right. I was dating Ryan Seacrest! I am such an idiot. Jesus.”“Anna, you are being too hard on yourself …”“Stop.”“I mean it. Look, you WANT to love someone. You want to so badly that you ignore the bad things. There are worse qualities.”“Like what?”“Like NOT wanting. “I studied agriculture at Aberystwyth and have a degree in plant sciences, I’ve always worked around the farm of course, but I went to work on other farms during holidays so I’ve got a reasonable knowledge and I want to specialise in organic production. James just reckons the more he can get out the better, but I don’t agree. Mum was talking to the Lady at Melcombe Grange and she said that you had this land, so I persuaded Dad that it would be a good idea to ask. That’s about it, I suppose.”Not. Even Mama Alvarez said she was writing far more infrequently. I wondered what was going on in her life. It didn’t take long to find out.“Nico, can you come to dinner tonight?” Mama Alvarez asked.This was unexpected and I could detect a change in her voice. Something was wrong and now I was worried.“Of course, Mama Alvarez,” I said immediately. She had taken to calling me Nico and I would never presume to correct her. It was a name of affection and I was flattered that she would use it to. For you I changed my looks, cutting my hairs like men and wearing male-fashioned things to look like a man. I want to make love to you all day and all night. I know you love me too. You've accepted me the way I changed myself, and the way I make love to you.I love every inch of your body. The big blue eyes of yours shine with insight when they look at me. The straight nose and full rosy lips are set up in the symmetry of your alluring, flushed face which brightens up when I kiss you on mouth..